Gippsland South electorate
Mr D O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:38): (6518) My question is to the Minister for Energy, and I seek from the minister an explanation of what role VicGrid is playing in the changes to or the rollout of additional transmission and other electricity infrastructure across the state, particularly in respect of the renewable energy zones announced in 2020. In my electorate of Gippsland South we currently have AusNet proposing a new 500-kilovolt overhead powerline to connect up potentially with the proposed offshore wind farms and other renewable energy being developed. It is very unclear to me and my community what role VicGrid will play and whether it will actually be able to assist any of those residents who are directly affected by the proposals for overhead transmission lines across their properties and what role, ultimately, VicGrid and the government will play if those residents refuse permission. So I seek some clarity on VicGrid’s role and how it will manage the impacts on my community from this proposed transmission line.